Projects To Boost Heavy Vehicle Safety And Productivity

Local councils pick up $18 million in federal funding for projects aimed at increasing safety and productivity along heavy vehicle freight routes

The Federal Government has committed $18 million in funding towards new projects aimed at improving heavy vehicle safety and productivity on regional roads.

The seven projects have been approved under the latest round of funding applications for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP); two each in Queensland, SA and Victoria and one in NSW.

The allocation is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment of at least $65 million per year for the program, which gives funding to state, territory and local governments for projects to increase safety and productivity along heavy vehicle freight routes, including widening and upgrading roads.

“The Australian Government continues to invest in our country’s trucking industry through the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, which funds projects aimed at increasing the safety and reliability of regional roads and freight networks,” says Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Senator Carol Brown.

“With this new round of funding we’re able to help more local councils improve their freight access and transport throughout the community so businesses can get on with delivering their goods and services in a more efficient way.”

In Queensland the funding includes $5 million towards a $10 million project to design, strengthen and widen existing roads which together will form an inter-highway connecting road along the Fernvale development area in the Somerset region north-west of Brisbane; and $5 million towards a $9.6 million project to upgrade some 2km of Kerry Road in the same region, including road re-alignment, width and pavement strengthening.

In Victoria, the Bass Coast Shire Council has received $3.236 million towards the $4.045 million to design, reconstruct, and widen approximately 2km of Grantville Glen Alvie Road in Kernot; while the Northern Grampians Shire Council has been allocated $600,000 for the $900,000 project to upgrade around 6km of unsealed gravel road to increased width and gravel shoulders and widen an intersection at Carrols Bridge Road.

South Australia, meanwhile, the Light Regional Council has been allocated $2.71 million for a $3.388 million project to widen Mudla Wirra Road at Kangaroo Flat; and a $576,919 for the $721,149 project to

In NSW, Hay Shire Council has received $1.12 million towards the $1.4 million design and construction of heavy vehicle access from Cobb Highway to the Hay Aerodrome.